My name is Carter LaCorte and I am a 5th grader from Long Island, NY. I started this blog so I could write articles about the NHL and MLB. My favorite teams are the New York Yankees and the New York Islanders.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

MLB trades: Ms acquire Smith, flip him soon after for Smyly

2 trades happened in the MLB, a couple hours apart, including the same team. The first trade, the Seattle Mariners acquired RHP Shae Simmons and OF Mallex Smith from the Atlanta Braves for LHPs Luiz Gohara and Thomas Burrows. But soon after that the Mariners might have been looking to flip Smith in a package for a better player, with the Tampa Bay Rays being a possible destination for the speedy OF.
The trade was completed soon later, sending Smith, LHP Ryan Yarbrough and SS Carlos Vargas to Tampa Bay for LHP Drew Smyly. Despite more rumors about the Rays dealing ace Chris Archer this offseason, there has been rumors about Smyly leaving, and it finally happened. You might ask "How will these players fill roles for their new team?" Well, Smyly and the recently acquired Yovani Gallardo will finish up a rotation that lost young pitcher Tajuan Walker earlier this offseason, with Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma being no. 1 and 2, Smyly at the no. 3 spot, James Paxton at the 4, and Gallardo at 5. Smith can add more outfield depth to the Rays, who signed OF Colby Rasmus the day before to add him and Smith to Kevin Kiermaier and Steven Souza Jr. for their 4 outfielders. Simmons can be a helpful arm out of the bullpen for the Mariners, but Gohara and Burrows should be in the minors for the Braves, as should Yarbrough and Vargas be for the Rays.